Arch corrector



NOV. 4, 1930. F H GR|FF|TH 1,780,479

ARCH CORRECTOR Filed July l5, 1926 I N X /.VVENTOR Patented Nov. 4, 1930FLOYD H. GRIFFITH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI ARCH CORRECTOR j Applicationled July 13, 1926. Serial No. 122,208.

My invention relates to a foot treating device and more particularly toan arch correctin device.

n the condition of the feet that is known as broken or fallen arches,the principal difficulty existing in the foot is that the muscles whichwould normally support the bones of the arch in their normal positionare stretched and weakened to such an extent that they do not carry outtheir supporting function. My apparatus is designed for massaging thefoot in such a manner as to strengthen these muscles and restore thearches to their normal condition. It is a purpose of my invention toprovide a device 0I the above mentioned character which can be operatedto massage the foot to build up the muscles thereof by merely moving thefoot in the proper manner over my apparatus.

It is a. further purpose of my invention to provide a lspherical membermounted in a socket on a suitable support so that the same is freelyrotatable,wh1ch member is adapted 4to be engaged by the foot under thearch so` that upon turning of the foot substantially about the axis ofthe spherical member the spherical member will exert a massaging actionon the under side of the foot at the arch to strengthen the muscles atthis point.

Co-operating with said spherical member is another massaging apparatuswhich preferably comprises tapering rounded or substantially conicalsurfaced vmembers which are adapted to be engaged by the foot, saidmembers being rotatable so that the foot can be rolled across the sameto massage vthe under side of the foot, particularly on the inner sidethereof or at the side thereof facing the other foot. In order toaccomplish this purpose the foot is'applied to the conical member sothat the inner side of the foot will engage with the portion of thetapered member that is of the greatest diameter, while the outer side ofthe foot engages with that portion that is of smaller diameter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription of the-accompanying drawings proceeds. However, I desire tohave it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myself tothe exact details shown or described, but 'that I intend to include aspart of my invention all such obvious changes and modifications of partsas would occur to a person skilled in this art and as Vwould fall withinthe scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my im roved foot treating apparatus,showing the oot in position on the spherical member.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalview of the device taken along the axisof the conical member. l

Fig. 3 is a section taken at rightan'gles to Fig. 2', the sphericalmember being shown in elevation, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the socket forming member for thespherical member.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

My improved foot treating device comprises a base member 10 comprising aplate adapted for stable positioning on a surface which may be made ofwood or any other desired material and which is provided with a rearwardprojection l1, a forward rounded projection 12 and the laterallyextending projection 13. The rounded projection l2 is provided with apreferably circular recess 14 on the longitudinal center line of thebase which has a tapered wall portion 15 adjacent the upper surface ofthe member 10. 'Engaging the upper surface of the member 10 at the projecting portion 12 thereof is a ring like socket forming member 16 whichhas a conical or beveled upper face 17 and which is provided withsuitable countersunk openings 18 for receiving the screws 19 for holdingsaid member 17 in position with the central opening 20 thereofsubstantially aligned with the opening 14. A spherical member 21 whichmay be made of hard rubber or similar material and which is providedwith an irregular surface preferably by providing depressions 22therein, is mounted in the socket formed by the opening 14, the beveledwall portion 15 and the opening 20, so that said member 21 is freelyrotatable in said socket. Preferably the depth of the socket is suchthat substantially half of the member 21 projects out of the same.

The laterally extending rectangular projections 13 of the base member 10are preferably provided with standards 23 which may be of any desiredmaterial such as wood and which may be secured in position on the mem--ber 10 in any desired manner, as by means of the securing members 24shown as being wood screws which extend upwardly from the under side ofthe member 10 and are countersunk into said member. Transverselyextending openings 25 are provided in the ends of the standards 23 andreceive the transverse rod 26 which serves as a stationary shaft, beingheld in position in the standards 23 and from rotation and longitudinalmovement therein by any suitable securing means such as the screw 27extending through a suitable opening in the member 23 and into the shaftlike member 26.

Mounted on the shaft like member 26 are the tapering rounded members 28which are substantially in the form of truncated cones with the enlargedends thereof adjacent the standards 23 and the reduced ends thereofadjacent each other and at the longitudinal center line of the base, thetapering members being spaced from the socket and from the base toreceive portions of a foot engaged with the ball for treatment thereby.The enlarged ends of the tapering members 28 may be provided with shortcylindrical`portions 29 adjacent said standards. The members 28 arepreferably provided with protuberances 30 thereon which are preferablyarranged in staggered relation, as will be evident from Figs. 1 and 2.Said protuberances are preferably provided with shank portions 31 havingsharpened ends 32 for holding the same in position in the members 28,said members being driven into position in the members 28 preferably ina manner similar to that in which tacks are driven into a member.

In use the ball like or spherical member 21 is first utilized byrotating the foot substantially about the axis of the member 21 with thefoot bearing against said member 21, the foot being oscillated back andforth the required num er of times and a gentle pressure being appliedto the spherical member. The spherical member is engaged substantiallyunder the arch of the foot at the point where the same is bowed upwardlyunder normal conditions during this operation. After the foot has beenproperly massaged by means of the spherical member 21 in this manner thefoot is further massaged by moving the same back and forth across on oneof the tapering members 28. p Thus in the position of the device shownin Fig. 1, if the right foot is being massaged the same will be inengagement with the member 28 at the left of said figure so that theportion thereof that is of greater diameter will be in engagement. withthe inner side of the sole of the foot, thus exercising the muscles soas to tend to restore them to their original-condition whereby the innerside of the foot is held entirely out of engagement with the groundbetween the ball and the heel portion thereof. If the left foot is beingmassaged, the action. with the spherical member is carried on in thesame manner but the foot is applied to the member 28 at the right ofFig. 1 instead of to the member to the left thereof as was the case ofthe right foot, this being done for the same purpose as previouslydescribed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An arch corrector including a base plate, a roller mountedtransversely on the plate having tapered surfaces meeting on the medlanline of the plate and a ball rotatably mounted on the median line of theplate in spaced relation with the roller.

2. An arch corrector comprising a base plate, brackets mounted atopposite edges of the plate adjacent one end thereof, a roller mountedon said brackets including complementary portions tapering toward thelongitudinal center line of the base plate, a ballreceiving socketlocated adjacent said longitudinal center line of the basev late inspaced relation with said roller, a all rotatably mounted in saidsocket, and means for retaining the ball in the socket.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

FLOYD H. GRIFFITH.

